Tree method for quantum vortex dynamics

We present a numerical method to compute the evolution of vortex filaments in superfluid helium. The method is based on a tree algorithm which considerably speeds up the calculation of Biot-Savart integrals. We show that the computational cost scales as Nlog{(N) rather than N squared, where $N$ is the number of discretization points. We test the method and its properties for a variety of vortex configurations, ranging from simple vortex rings to a counterflow vortex tangle, and compare results against the Local Induction Approximation and the exact Biot-Savart law.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figure

The sensitivity of the vortex filament method to different reconnection models

We present a detailed analysis on the effect of using different algorithms to model the reconnection of vortices in quantum turbulence, using the thin-filament approach. We examine differences between four main algorithms for the case of turbulence driven by a counterflow. In calculating the velocity field we use both the local induction approximation (LIA) and the full Biot-Savart integral. We show that results of Biot-Savart simulations are not sensitive to the particular reconnection method used, but LIA results are.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figure

XRCC1 gene polymorphisms in a population sample and in women with a family history of breast cancer from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

The X-ray repair cross-complementing Group1 (XRCC1) gene has been defined as essential in the base excision repair (BER) and single-strand break repair processes. This gene is highly polymorphic, and the most extensively studied genetic changes are in exon 6 (Arg194Trp) and in exon 10 (Arg399Gln). These changes, in conserved protein sites, may alter the base excision repair capacity, increasing the susceptibility to adverse health conditions, including cancer. In the present study, we estimated the frequencies of the XRCC1 gene polymorphisms Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln in healthy individuals and also in women at risk of breast cancer due to family history from Rio de Janeiro. The common genotypes in both positions (194 and 399) were the most frequent in this Brazilian sample. Although the 194Trp variant was overrepresented in women reporting familial cases of breast cancer, no statistically significant differences concerning genotype distribution or intragenic interactions were found between this group and the controls. Thus, in the population analyzed by us, variants Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln did not appear to have any impact on breast cancer susceptibility

Protocol for a parallel group, two-arm, superiority cluster randomised trial to evaluate a community-level complementary-food safety and hygiene and nutrition intervention in Mali:the MaaCiwara study (version 1.3; 10 November 2022)

BACKGROUND: Diarrhoeal disease remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among the under-fives in many low- and middle-income countries. Changes to food safety practices and feeding methods around the weaning period, alongside improved nutrition, may significantly reduce the risk of disease and improve development for infants. We describe a protocol for a cluster randomised trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a multi-faceted community-based educational intervention that aims to improve food safety and hygiene behaviours and enhance child nutrition. METHODS: We describe a mixed-methods, parallel group, two-arm, superiority cluster randomised controlled trial with baseline measures. One hundred twenty clusters comprising small urban and rural communities will be recruited in equal numbers and randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio to either treatment or control arms. The community intervention will be focussed around an ideal mother concept involving all community members during campaign days with dramatic arts and pledging, and follow-up home visits. Participants will be mother–child dyads (27 per cluster period) with children aged 6 to 36 months. Data collection will comprise a day of observation and interviews with each participating mother–child pair and will take place at baseline and 4 and 15 months post-intervention. The primary analysis will estimate the effectiveness of the intervention on changes to complementary-food safety and preparation behaviours, food and water contamination, and diarrhoea. Secondary outcomes include maternal autonomy, enteric infection, nutrition, child anthropometry, and development scores. A additional structural equation analysis will be conducted to examine the causal relationships between the different outcomes. Qualitative and health economic analyses including process evaluation will be done. CONCLUSIONS: The trial will provide evidence on the effectiveness of community-based behavioural change interventions designed to reduce the burden of diarrhoeal disease in the under-fives and how effectiveness varies across different contexts. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN14390796. Registration date December 13, 2021 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-022-06984-5

XRCC1 gene polymorphisms in a population sample and in women with a family history of breast cancer from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)

The X-ray repair cross-complementing Group1 (XRCC1) gene has been defined as essential in the base excision repair (BER) and single-strand break repair processes. This gene is highly polymorphic, and the most extensively studied genetic changes are in exon 6 (Arg194Trp) and in exon 10 (Arg399Gln). These changes, in conserved protein sites, may alter the base excision repair capacity, increasing the susceptibility to adverse health conditions, including cancer. In the present study, we estimated the frequencies of the XRCC1 gene polymorphisms Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln in healthy individuals and also in women at risk of breast cancer due to family history from Rio de Janeiro. The common genotypes in both positions (194 and 399) were the most frequent in this Brazilian sample. Although the 194Trp variant was overrepresented in women reporting familial cases of breast cancer, no statistically significant differences concerning genotype distribution or intragenic interactions were found between this group and the controls. Thus, in the population analyzed by us, variants Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln did not appear to have any impact on breast cancer susceptibility

Understanding teaching assistant self-efficacy in role and in training: its susceptibility to influence

There has been a noted growth in the number of teaching assistants (TAs) in mainstream schools (DfE, 2013a). Research is inconclusive about their efficacy at changing outcomes for children (Alborz et al 2009; Blatchford et al, 2009) and has proposed more training for TAs (Russell et al, 2005). Generic training models have suggested that enhancing self-efficacy in turn improves performance. This exploratory study investigated factors that may influence TAs’ sense of self-efficacy and its susceptibility to influence in training. Following two modes of mode of school-based training by Educational Psychologists (EPs) data were collected from 14 mainstream secondary school TAs using focus groups. A thematic analysis noted themes regarding self-efficacy, aligned with Bandura’s (1977) sources of information, outcome expectations and whole school support and norms. Review of the data is likely to be able to guide potential trainers to coach consult strategies which are self-efficacy supportive and which address contextual factors including the perceived status of TAs in schools

Sample Size under Inverse Negative Binomial Group Testing for Accuracy in Parameter Estimation

Background:The group testing method has been proposed for the detection and estimation of genetically modified plants (adventitious presence of unwanted transgenic plants, AP). For binary response variables (presence or absence), group testing is efficient when the prevalence is low, so that estimation, detection, and sample size methods have been developed under the binomial model. However, when the event is rare (low prevalence Methodology/Principal Findings: This research proposes three sample size procedures (two computational and one analytic) for estimating prevalence using group testing under inverse (negative) binomial sampling. These methods provide the required number of positive pools (rm), given a pool size (k), for estimating the proportion of AP plants using the Dorfman model and inverse (negative) binomial sampling. We give real and simulated examples to show how to apply these methods and the proposed sample-size formula. The Monte Carlo method was used to study the coverage and level of assurance achieved by the proposed sample sizes. An R program to create other scenarios is given in Appendix S2. Conclusions: The three methods ensure precision in the estimated proportion of AP because they guarantee that the width (W) of the confidence interval (CI) will be equal to, or narrower than, the desired width (v), with a probability of c. With the Monte Carlo study we found that the computational Wald procedure (method 2) produces the more precise sample size (with coverage and assurance levels very close to nominal values) and that the samples size based on the Clopper-Pearson CI (method 1) is conservative (overestimates the sample size); the analytic Wald sample size method we developed (method 3) sometimes underestimated the optimum number of pools

Exenatide once weekly versus placebo in Parkinson's disease: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, has neuroprotective effects in preclinical models of Parkinson's disease. We investigated whether these effects would be apparent in a clinical trial. METHODS: In this single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, patients with moderate Parkinson's disease were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive subcutaneous injections of exenatide 2 mg or placebo once weekly for 48 weeks in addition to their regular medication, followed by a 12-week washout period. Eligible patients were aged 25-75 years, had idiopathic Parkinson's disease as measured by Queen Square Brain Bank criteria, were on dopaminergic treatment with wearing-off effects, and were at Hoehn and Yahr stage 2·5 or less when on treatment. Randomisation was by web-based randomisation with a two strata block design according to disease severity. Patients and investigators were masked to treatment allocation. The primary outcome was the adjusted difference in the Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) motor subscale (part 3) in the practically defined off-medication state at 60 weeks. All efficacy analyses were based on a modified intention-to-treat principle, which included all patients who completed any post-randomisation follow-up assessments. The study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01971242) and is completed. FINDINGS: Between June 18, 2014, and March 13, 2015, 62 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned, 32 to exenatide and 30 to placebo. Our primary analysis included 31 patients in the exenatide group and 29 patients in the placebo group. At 60 weeks, off-medication scores on part 3 of the MDS-UPDRS had improved by 1·0 points (95% CI -2·6 to 0·7) in the exenatide group and worsened by 2·1 points (-0·6 to 4·8) in the placebo group, an adjusted mean difference of -3·5 points (-6·7 to -0·3; p=0·0318). Injection site reactions and gastrointestinal symptoms were common adverse events in both groups. Six serious adverse events occurred in the exenatide group and two in the placebo group, although none in either group were judged to be related to the study interventions. INTERPRETATION: Exenatide had positive effects on practically defined off-medication motor scores in Parkinson's disease, which were sustained beyond the period of exposure. Whether exenatide affects the underlying disease pathophysiology or simply induces long-lasting symptomatic effects is uncertain. Exenatide represents a major new avenue for investigation in Parkinson's disease, and effects on everyday symptoms should be examined in longer-term trials. FUNDING: Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

Glastir Monitoring & Evaluation Programme. Second year annual report

What is the purpose of Glastir Monitoring and Evaluation Programme? Glastir is the main scheme by which the Welsh Government pays for environmental goods and services whilst the Glastir Monitoring and Evaluation Programme (GMEP) evaluates the scheme’s success. Commissioning of the monitoring programme in parallel with the launch of the Glastir scheme provides fast feedback and means payments can be modified to increase effectiveness. The Glastir scheme is jointly funded by the Welsh Government (through the Rural Development Plan) and the EU. GMEP will also support a wide range of other national and international reporting requirements. What is the GMEP approach? GMEP collects evidence for the 6 intended outcomes from the Glastir scheme which are focussed on climate change, water and soil quality, biodiversity, landscape, access and historic environment, woodland creation and management. Activities include; a national rolling monitoring programme of 1km squares; new analysis of long term data from other schemes combining with GMEP data where possible; modelling to estimate future outcomes so that adjustments can be made to maximise impact of payments; surveys to assess wider socio-economic benefits; and development of novel technologies to increase detection and efficiency of future assessments. How has GMEP progressed in this 2nd year? 90 GMEP squares were surveyed in Year 2 to add to the 60 completed in Year 1 resulting in 50% of the 300 GMEP survey squares now being completed. Squares will be revisited on a 4 year cycle providing evidence of change in response to Glastir and other pressures such as changing economics of the farm business, climate change and air pollution. This first survey cycle collects the baseline against which future changes will be assessed. This is important as GMEP work this year has demonstrated land coming into the scheme is different in some respects to land outside the scheme. Therefore, future analysis to detect impact of Glastir will be made both against the national backdrop from land outside the scheme and this baseline data from land in scheme. A wide range of analyses of longterm data has been completed for all Glastir Outcomes with the exception of landscape quality and historic features condition for which limited data is available. This has involved combining data with 2013/14 GMEP data when methods allow. Overall analysis of long term data indicates one of stability but with little evidence of improvement with the exception of headwater quality, greenhouse gas emissions and woodland area for which there has been improvement over the last 20 years. Some headline statistics include: 51% of historic features in excellent or sound condition; two thirds of public rights of way fully open and accessible; improvement in hedgerow management with 85% surveyed cut in the last 3 years but < 1% recently planted; 91% of streams had some level of modification but 60% retained good ecological quality; no change topsoil carbon content over last 25 years. What is innovative? GMEP has developed various new metrics to allow for more streamlined reporting in the future. For example a new Priority Bird species Index for Wales which combines data from 35 species indicates at least half have stable or increasing populations. The new GMEP Visual Quality Landscape Index has been tested involving over 2600 respondents. Results have demonstrated its value as an objective and repeatable method for quantifying change in visual landscape quality. A new unified peat map for Wales has been developed which has been passed to Glastir Contract Managers to improve targeting of payments when negotiating Glastir contracts. An estimate of peat soil contribution to current greenhouse gas emissions due to human modification has been calculated. Models have allowed quantification of land area helping to mitigate rainfall runoff. We are using new molecular tools to explore the effects of Glastir on soil organisms and satellite technologies to quantify e.g. small woody features and landcover change. Finally we are using a community approach to develop a consensus on how to define and report change in High Nature Value Farmland which will be reported in the Year 3 GMEP report

Diagnostic accuracy for the extent and activity of newly diagnosed and relapsed Crohn’s disease: a multicentre prospective comparison of magnetic resonance enterography and small bowel ultrasound –The METRIC Trial

Background Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) and ultrasound (US) are used to image Crohn’s disease, but comparative accuracy for disease extent and activity is not known with certainty. We undertook a prospective multicentre cohort trial to address this Methods We recruited from 8 UK hospitals. Eligible patients were 16 years or older, newly diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, or had established disease with suspected relapse. Consecutive patients underwent MRE and US in addition to standard investigations. Discrepancy between MRE and US for small bowel (SB) disease presence triggered an additional investigation, if not already available. The primary outcome was difference in per patient sensitivity for SB disease extent (correct identification and segmental localisation) against a construct reference standard (panel diagnosis). Accuracy for SB and colonic disease presence and activity were secondary outcomes. The trial is completed (ISRCTN03982913). Findings 284 patients completed the trial (133 new diagnosis, 151 relapse). MRE sensitivity (n=233) for SB disease extent (80% [95%CI 72 to 86]) and presence (97% [91 to 99]) were significantly greater than US (70% [62 to 78], 92% [84 to 96]); a 10% (1 to 18; p=0.027), and 5% (1 to 9), difference respectively. MRE specificity for SB disease extent (95% [85 to 98]) was significantly greater than US (81% [64 to 91]). Sensitivity for active SB disease was significantly greater for MRE than US (96% [92 to 99] vs. 90% [82 to 95]), difference 6% (2 to 11). Overall, there were no significant accuracy differences for colonic disease presence. Accuracy in newly diagnosed and relapse patients was similar, although US had significantly greater sensitivity for colonic disease than MRE in newly diagnosed patients (67% [49 to 81) vs. 47% [31 to 64]), difference 20% (1 to 39). There were no serious adverse events. Interpretation MRE has higher diagnostic accuracy for the extent and activity of SB Crohn’s disease than US when tested in a prospective multi centre cohort trial setting